News from Ukraine, Eastern Europe

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sept. 1 dismissed reports of a possible new wave of mobilization in Russia as "absolute nonsense," while saying he had ordered preparations for large-scale strikes against Ukraine's energy infrastructure.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, U.S. President Donald Trump, and Chinese President Xi Jinping could hold a trilateral meeting at the upcoming APEC summit in China, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said on Sept. 1.

Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on Sept. 1 called for a "decisive strategy" to counter Russian threats in Europe after Germany officially accused Moscow of attempting a drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport.

"Today we want to warn every airline that uses Russian airspace, every insurer, everyone who still uses key Russian airports — Russian skies are becoming completely dangerous," Zelensky said.

"Now we want to use this experience to build technologies that will strengthen Ukraine, help our allies, and ultimately make the world safer," former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said.

Russia continued its attacks on Kyiv for another consecutive night as air defenses in Ukraine's capital shot down Russian drones into Sept. 1, according to Kyiv Independent journalists on the ground.

"We have clear indications from our intelligence services and partner agencies, as well as from investigations in Germany and in our European partner countries, of Russian involvement," German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said.

Koretskyi said the move was necessary as the defense against Russia's full-scale invasion is becoming significantly more expensive.

A Ukrainian drone attack damaged the Russian Baltic Sea port of Ust-Luga in Leningrad Oblast early on Sept. 1, regional Governor Alexander Drozdenko said.

One drone crossed into southeastern Estonia, while another flew toward the border city of Narva but changed course before entering the country’s airspace, Estonian Air Force Commander Brigadier General Riivo Valge told public broadcaster ERR.